The Magicians

Have you ever been so excited to start reading a book, then the more you read it, you think, why is this happening, the author is ruining the story!?!? Welcome to The Magicians. With a Harry Potter meets the Chronicles of Narnia storyline, it has such a promising start but then chaos ensues.

The book is divided into four sections. Part 1 introduces us to Quentin, a teenager living in New York who is just not satisfied with his life. He loves his best friend's girl and constantly feels like a 3rd wheel. Everything changes when he magically transports to Brakebills College, a Hogwarts-like school where magic is taught. He takes his entrance exam, is accepted, and begins his magical training along with Penny and Alice. Along the way, he meets Eliot, Janet, and Josh, other students at the school. Unlike the Harry Potter books, Quentin's 4 year education is only the first half of this story.

Part 2: After graduation, Quentin and his now-girlfriend Alice move to New York where their other friends are living. They have no responsibility and drink away their days and nights. Fanatic fans of a children's series about travels to a land called Fillory (enter the Chronicles of Narnia connection), the whole group gets excited when Penny shows up with a way to travel there.

Part 3: What ensues is not for the light-hearted. The group travels to a land, only to find it in a time of uncertainty. The group assumes the task of finding the crowns of Fillory (for just as in Chronicles, only humans can rule the land). After being led by two guides to the hiding place of the crowns, the group faces many obstacles. A battle ensues (of course) and there are casualties.

Part 4: Once Quentin makes it back to New York, he swears off magic. He gets a job, tries to be a mature adult and do the right thing. At the very end, old friends turn up with the proposition of returning to Fillory.

I can't decide why I didn't like the book.
a) It might have been Quentin's constant effort to remain unhappy and depressed. When something goes wrong, he easily blames everyone else but himself. When he's unhappy, thinks something will make his life better, and receives it, he remains unhappy. It is frustrating to read about a character that doesn't take responsibility for his life or actions.
b) It might have been the fact that I still had questions remaining once the story was over. Some of the events are neatly wrapped up in a magic explanation which feels like a cop out in the plot. Some characters' outcomes are left in question.
c) It could have just been the lack of happy ending that I usually prefer to a story. The book did have closure, but also ended with a perfect set up for a sequel, or even a series, and I admit, I will be reading on (if possible) to see if some of my questions might be answered in the future.

If you like happy little stories rolled up in a neat package, this book is not for you. If you like intrigue, suspense, and some action (and don't mind the vulgarity of a teenage mind), then you will enjoy this story. Just accept that it is filled with teenage angst and real-world cynicism.

In Cold Blood

What I love most about reading is the ability to escape reality and be entertained for awhile. No matter what is wrong in the 'real world,' a good plot can make you forget all that for awhile. Every once in a while, a book doesn't fit into that category. The story is sad and poignant; it's moving but not lighthearted. Even less often, a story like that is true. Enter In Cold Blood. A true story, this novel by Truman Capote follows the murder of the Clutter family and the tracking, trial, and execution of the murderers. On November 15, 1959, Herby, Bonnie, and their two younger children, Nancy and Kenyon, were tied up and shot with a shot gun. Why? Dick and Perry thought they would find thousands of dollars in a safe in the study. They left the house with less than $50.

The novel is in four parts: 1. The Last to See Them Alive, 2. Persons Unknown, 3. Answer, and 4. The Corner. Part 1 sets the scene with wonderful description of the town of Holcomb, character profiles of the Clutter family and close friends, and a general idea of the way of life in a small town in the 1950's. Capote is talented at grabbing readers' attention right away and drawing them into the story. Several times in this first section, he makes comments like 'unaware that it would be his last [day].' Reading all of this, you can't help but be filled with a sense of dread as each chapter switches between the Clutter family's last day alive and the murderers preparing for their trip to Holcomb.

Part 2 follows Dick and Perry (the murderers)to Mexico after the fact and gives a more detailed glimpse into their childhoods. Due to a shortage of funds and the lower minimum wage in Mexico, they decide to return to the states. It amazes me the small things that happen that cause their capture. Would this case have ever been solved if Dick and Perry had stayed in Mexico? The KBI officers are also introduced, and it is revealed how little evidence they have to work with.

Part 3 follows Dick and Perry throughout the US as they travel around bored and looking for easy money. The KBI officers work really diligently to find them. Dick and Perry are finally captured in Las Vegas. It's not until this point that a true description of what happened 'that night' is given. It is truly disturbing what happened in the house. The first time I read this book, back in high school, I had to put the book down for a couple of days. The title of the book is incredibly appropriate when Perry and Dick each describe so matter-of-factly how they killed each family member.

Part 4 gives details of the trial and then Dick and Perry's time on death row before their execution. I think the saddest part is the last scene. While one of the KBI agents is at the execution (which didn't happen until April 1965, 5.5 years after the murders), he recalls a memory that had happened the year before at the cemetery in Holcomb. While visiting his father's grave, he stops by the Clutters' graves and sees Nancy's close friend, Susan. She is in college now and reveals that Nancy's boyfriend is now married. She has to run off, late for an appointment. It was this short scene that truly upset me. Nancy and Kenyon were completely robbed of these experiences: college, falling in love, marriage, a family of their own.

This was a wonderfully written book. Capote gives wonderful description of people and places. He presents a horrible crime in a very unbiased view. I don't think I could say that I love this book--it is truly a horribly story--but it is a great piece of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

Note: Eventually there will be additional blogs reviewing the two movies, Capote and Infamous.

The Time Traveler's Wife part 2

I went to the movies tonight with some of the girls from book club A. Movies on a Tuesday? Oh yes!! The theater offers a 'stimulus package' of $1 popcorn and $1 drinks on Tuesdays. I think we'll start going more often. Anyway, we went to see The Time Traveler's Wife since we had just read the book and were really looking forward to seeing how they made such a different story into a movie. We were not disappointed. The movie jumped right in, showing an important part of Henry's life as a 6 year old and then switching in the next scene to a 28 year old Henry meeting Claire. Despite these early variations from the novel, the movie is mostly true to the story. Any changes are not major enough to disappoint fans of the book (compared to The Bourne Identity trilogy), and at the end of the movie, you get the same closure despite the slightly different ending. Don't worry, by slightly different, I just mean setting, not completely different story line!

I was thoroughly impressed with how well this book was transformed into a movie. A true book lover, I rarely like the movie more, but I have to admit, this was on par with how great the novel was. I'm so glad Hollywood was able to take a wonderful book and make a wonderful movie without giving it a 'Hollywood' ending or making completely unnecessary changes that affect the plot (again Bourne Trilogy, Angels and Demons, even New Moon of the Twilight series). These books are on best-seller lists for a reason, don't mess with a recipe that works!!! It was a truly enjoyable night out with the girls!